Pinterest in the government? I vote yes.

Since you read my last post, 5 Ways Pinterest Can Enhance Your Business, you know that your business can reap benefits by using Pinterest. However, to identify with those coming from a B2B perspective, what if you aren’t a brand or business per se? For example: Mayors, city councilors, etc. How could municipal government use Pinterest?

While it’s logical for brands like McDonalds that have visually appealing products to be active on Pinterest, there is a comparable niche for municipal government and it has yet to be fully exposed.

Municipal government officials have a responsibility to communicate with their citizens. It may seem more straightforward in other social media platforms, like Facebook and Twitter, because conversations are the core of what those networks are. However, it’s very important to have an online presence where your audience is.

Here are three social media tips for municipal government on Pinterest:

Hold contests to promote businesses in the community:

To take a pin out of Gov. Martin O’Malley’s board, running a contest, like “Maryland Business Pitch Contest” via Pinterest is an interesting way to promote local businesses while crafting a healthy dose of friendly competition. Open to all ages, this contest inspired entrepreneurs as young as 13-years-old to strut their business stuff.

Let everyone know why you love your city:

Show pride in your metropolis by posting pictures of the places you like to visit, like the library, walking trails or the beach. Feel free to post all things beautiful you come across in your day-to-day life in your ward or city.

Upload intriguing and valuable content:

Post compelling images that also convey positive messages about your city, i.e. charts and graphs, or images of the water treatment plants to show everyone how they work. You will have an opportunity to educate the citizens in the community, while possibly bringing them directly to your website. In previous months, Pinterest has generated more referral traffic than Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn.

Elected officials may differ exponentially from McDonalds, but when they use Pinterest to benefit their image the same way a brand does, I have three words: I’m lovin’ it.

Are you using Pinterest? Feel free to share your experience with us in the comment section below!